Mr Johan Ekström, 45, was born 29 July 1866 in Sweden, the son of Johan Svensson. He was a farmer living in Effington Rut, South Dakota. He was married in America and had seven children: Lillie Marie, Mabel, Myrtle, Carolina, Edgar Oscar, Robert Clarence and Bernard Victor. He owned his farm together with his brother. A married sister Mrs John Larson lived on 165 Chatham St. New Haven Connecticut.

Ekström was on his way from Nennesmo, Reftele, Småland, Sweden to Effington Rut together with his recently widowed father Johan Svensson. They boarded the Titanic at Southampton as third class passengers. Both men died in the sinking, their bodies were never recovered.